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Famous Crab Bombs Classic Recipe

4.4 from 127 reviews

Discover the classic taste of Famous Crab Bombs, a delicious baked appetizer featuring jumbo lump crab meat blended with creamy mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and Old Bay seasoning. These golden-brown crab mounds are brushed with melted butter and baked to perfection, making them an irresistible starter perfect for entertaining or a special treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Crab Mixture

  • 1 pound jumbo lump crab meat, fresh or pasteurized
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons crushed buttery crackers

For Baking

  • Melted butter for brushing
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and allow it to fully heat for even baking.
  2. Prepare Crab Meat: Carefully inspect the jumbo lump crab meat and remove any shells, ensuring the delicate crab lumps remain intact for a tender texture.
  3. Make the Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, beaten egg, Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, and finely chopped parsley until the ingredients are well combined and smooth.
  4. Combine Ingredients: Gently fold the lump crab meat and crushed buttery crackers into the bowl mixture, taking care not to overmix in order to preserve the crab’s natural texture and lumps.
  5. Form and Arrange: Shape the crab mixture into 4 to 6 even mounds using your hands or a spoon. Place the mounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased for easy removal.
  6. Bake: Brush each crab mound generously with melted butter to add richness and promote a golden crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes until the bombs are heated through and golden brown on top.
  7. Serve: Remove the crab bombs from the oven and serve immediately with fresh lemon wedges and additional Old Bay seasoning if desired for a zesty finish.

Notes

  • Be careful not to overmix the crab mixture to keep the lumps of crab meat intact, preserving texture.
  • Using fresh jumbo lump crab meat enhances flavor, but pasteurized crab meat works well too.
  • Crushed buttery crackers add a subtle crunch and help bind the mixture together.
  • Brushing with melted butter before baking promotes a golden, rich crust on the crab bombs.
  • Serve with lemon wedges to brighten and complement the flavors.
  • These can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking for convenience.

Keywords: crab bombs, baked crab appetizer, jumbo lump crab recipe, seafood appetizer, Old Bay seasoning crab, easy crab recipe